One of my family's favorite Christmas traditions is our countdown activity calendar. I created ours by making 24 pockets out of felt and hanging them with clothespins on a long ribbon. In each pocket, I place a simple activity, such as baking Christmas cookies, watching a movie, or doing an act of service. I always consult with Freeform 25 Days of Christmas calendar for our family movie picks so I know which days to schedule. My children love this tradition and are eager to begin it every year. If you’d like to start your own countdown tradition, here are 50 activities my family has enjoyed over the years, to help you get started.

Christmas Movies to Watch:

1. The Polar Express.
2. Elf.
3. Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
4. Home Alone.
5. How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
6. A Charlie Brown Christmas.
7. Frozen.
8. Frosty the Snowman.
9. The Nightmare Before Christmas.
10. Gremlins.
    
     

In the Kitchen:

1. Bake and decorate Christmas cookies.
2. Construct a gingerbread house and decorate it.
3. Bake reindeer cupcakes.
4. Make homemade hot chocolate.
5. Try these candy cookie cones.

Christmas Books to Read:

1. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
2. The Christmas Story by Jane Werner Watson
3. The Christmas Wish by Lori Evert
4. The Night Before Christmas by Clement Moore and Cooper Edens
5. Llama Llama Jingle Bells by Anna Dewdney
6. A Wish to Be a Christmas Tree by Colleen Monroe
7. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
8. The Itsy Bitsy Snowman by Jeffrey Burton
9. The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving by Jan Berenstain
10. The Nutcracker by Susan Jeffers

Ideas for acts of service, family activities, places to go on page 2...